The Sacrifices for Peace.

 

Chapter 11.

Branwen awoke to the feeling of soft warm hands and a numb body. She did not recognise the girl who bandaged her wounds she carefully cast her eyes around the stall despite the girls soothing words. They were alone and Branwen was free. When the last bandage was in place the girl handed Branwen a simple dress, Branwen gratefully took it. She stepped into the dress grateful to no longer be naked. Branwen’s eyes glanced to the door her thoughts on escaping.

“Don’t there’s a guard there. I’ll be punished if you try to escape” The girl whispered.

“What’s you name?” Branwen asked eyeing the small window.

“Alaura.” She answered.

“Well then Alaura” Branwen said studying the girls bruised face and arms “lets get out of here together.”

The girl looked positively terrified as Branwen dragged a hay bale over to where the small window was. Branwen wrestled the stiff window open, grateful for whatever salve was applied to her wounds that had numbed them. Branwen helped Alaura through the window first before following. Hand in hand they headed for the tree line, luck was not with them.

“The prisoners escaping!” came the call behind them. Branwen’s feet stung as she ran barefoot through the woods. Alaura tripped over a root and Branwen dragged her to her feet but the foot steps behind her were getting closer. Both women were jarred to a stop as one of the guards grabbed Alaura’s wrist and put a blade to her throat.

“Stop Princess or I’ll take her life” Branwen froze at the threat but Alaura’s widened when she realised who Branwen was.

“Run princess.” She said grabbing the dagger from the man’s belt. Branwen saw Alaura’s throat slice as the blade in her hands plunged into the man’s stomach. Branwen could feel the scream winding up in her throat as she turned and ran blindly through the forest, just trying to get as far as she could before more men came for her.

Feet bleeding Branwen was aware of the baying of dogs and the sound of horses galloping towards her as she broke through the trees to a cliff edge. It was thoughts of Jarrad that spurred her tired and aching body on. His beautiful hazel eyes, black hair that curled behind his ears when damp, his tall muscular build. She was sure they could have made it work but now… Tears clouded her vision and sobs made it hard to breath. There was no way she could out run them. She reached the cliffs edge and she looked down the steep drop and lake at its bottom.

Branwen hesitated, pain, rape and torture was all that waited for her back at that camp. She sent a quick prayer and apology to Jarrad before taking several steps back. Taking the biggest breath her body would allow Branwen sprinted and leapt off the cliff edge, there was a brief sensation of weightlessness before she began to plummet. A scream tore from her lungs as she plummeted until the water consumed her in its icy grip.

Body hurting and limbs stiff and tired Branwen fought to the surface, only to able to gasp a single breath before the waterfall pushed her head under. Her limbs were ceasing up and her head began to spin and a few seconds passed and her fighting slowed. Branwen thought of Jarrad, he would mourn her, she was sure of that but she hoped he would remarry,  fall in love and have a family, she wished him the best but her heart ached, her thoughts faded into darkness and her body drifted lifelessly in the currents.